After you've worked out the drop date, it's a case of hitting the DAC as often as you can durng that day and then registering as soon as you see it as available.
Your chances are much improved if you only go for one domain at a time (because, for example, if you're constantly querying two names then you only query each half as often).
Once you've got a working script/system/whatever, you need to review your code and optimise it so that everything runs as fast as possible. Quite literally, milliseconds count.
The competition is vast, particularly since the DAC was introduced. The reality is that, unless you're a genius (or you cheat), you will lose more than you win in terms of the top names.
If you've got a good script/system/whatever then you should get some good success with the less obvious names.
That's where having a good list comes in. Some people will only use dictionary words. Others will use dictionary words and the plurals of the words. Some people will use celebrity names, some placenames, some will combine words, some will rely on the excellent
http://www.deleting.co.uk. The less obvious the name, the better the chance you've got.
Don't give up and good luck
